The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-16
BORROWED PLUMES,

AN Odd-l0Oking figure, arraved in q
shabby cloak and green veil, appeared
before Charles Lorraine, junior partner in
the firm Of Stcamc & Lorraine. book
publishers
- have a book here I would like to
offer you, sir"
There was quiycr in the girlish voice
and the cotton glovcd hand h0ldino the
manuscript trcmbcd, in spite of her eff
forts to be calm.
Yes, l suppose so; much obliged,
but we are not needing anything lust at
present." And Mr. Lorraine went ON
with his writing.
Surely, sir, YOU do not mean that
you will not even look at it,"
Certainly mean it; We have no time
10 waste over manuscripts we do not
want"
" But how do you know mine would
not he accepted without seeing it, Ihave
spent monthS-years, l may say"
No doubt; so have others who might
have been better employed" "
But / have travelled far, at some ex-
oenSe. My case is a peculiar one"
So are they all; each one has a
special plea to urge in ofIeringus book ;
80 really. madam or miss. YOU are vast
ing your time and mine. | must ber Won
to excuse me from further discussion; I
am busy"
"Ordcr me out at once" came hyster-
ically from the folds of the green veil.
"Oh, what Will become of me5 What
shall | d0I" And turning around, as
though in answer to her own question.
she ran straight into the arms of the
senior partner Horace Stcarnc, who was
coming in at that moment
He had vision Of quivcring red lips.
startled brown eyes and tcar-wet lashes.
and then, before he could recover from
his astOnishmeut, she was gone.
"COnfound it," Charley was saving.
"Can't man refuse to buy a bundle of
grimy manuscript without raising tenn
pest BY Jove. that young woman has
missed her fate by choosing literature
she should 60 on the stage in high
tragedy"
"Djd you look at her offering,
Charlie"
Il looked at her; that was enoughro
"You should have allowed her to
leave it here little while, lust to satisfy
her, You know. Poor child, l suppose
she has built upou its acceptance"
1It ttAi IICAI ~ IiIC NOOI anu lOOkcu UP
and down the street.
"She is out Of sight entirely, now," he
added regretiuly.
Upon leaving the publishing house the
girl kept her veil closely drawn, and,
turning into Il side street, walked rapidly,
but aimlcs~Iv until she reached the out
skirts of the city; then, seating herself
upon a stone by the wayside, withdrew
her veil.
She was not noticeably handsome. Her
eyes, although beautiful brown, were
dull with agony; her face was tear-stained
and swollen, and her yellow hair dis
hevclIed. 1t was in the latter part of
November, and night was coming on,
but this wretchcd girl was homeless.
Her pititul story is quickly told. Her
father, the only parent she could remem-
Der, had been a poor schoOlmaster, her
mother having died at her birth. He
had educated his child himself, with
particular care, so at eighteen she was
far in advance of most girls Of her age,
and from her narrow experience, by the
aid of a vivid fancy, she had written a
novel.
Then suddenly she found herself father
less, and when the funeral expenses were
paid she was the posscssOr Of a library of
well thumbed Volumes six dollars in
money and her precious novel.
But this in itself was her fortune. and
though dazcd by her sudden bereave-
ment, she determined to go to the city
and turn it into hard cash as speedily as
possible.
Il dare not buy bit of decent mourn
inc vet, " she sObbed. Il must save the
six dollars to pay my expenses until get
my money"
Poor child. she never dreamed of dis
appointment. She knew so little Of life
as it really is-of its hard struggles for
small trumphs, its sharp competition
and crowded marts. She knew not
that
''For one who wins the crown,
Hundreds go down. go down"
So. a bu~incs~ card from the publishing
house Of Stcane q Lorraine having
fallen into her possession, she had carried
her precious manuscript straight to them,
with nat result we already know.
i small dwelling was near where she
sat. and several COWS were gathering the
scant heritage by the wayside. The
tinklc OF their bells had a soothing effect,
and when they turned their meek eyes
upon her, she almost felt as though they
pitied her misery.
The cottage door opened, and a woman
came toward her with a couple of milk
pals. and as she lnelt to, her task, she
Glanced over her shoulder at the silent
fi.aIre, looking SO pitifuI and desolate.
She finished her milking, hesltated a
m.n.nt, and then remarkcd,-
..Aren't YOU cold sitting there"
eyes"